About Me

Bronx and I

My journey with holistic pet food started a week before I adopted my first dog Bronx. I was working in a small pet supply store. It was my first time coming across the term holistic and finding foods that weren’t Purina. It wasn’t until I adopted Bronx that I actually understood the importance of quality dog food. The moment I held my dog Bronx in my arms, I knew that I wanted the best for him, starting with giving him the best quality of life possible. The problem was that at the age of 19, I was barely able to take care of myself. How was I going to be able to take care of a puppy who depended on me?

I don’t know how I did it, but somehow I made it work.

The moment I adopted Bronx, I searched for the best type of food to feed him. Working at a small pet supply store taught me the basic essentials of finding good pet food. I looked at the ingredients listed on every bag imaginable, looking for the one I hoped would benefit him the most. I opted for starting him off with Wellness Puppy food. At first he didn’t like it, but because of his puppy appetite he soon dived into his bowl every feeding, gobbling up every last bit. Seeing how the food gave him energy, made his coat shine a beautiful shade of black and seeing his eyes lighten up with excitement, I knew I was on to something. If Bronx, even as young and small as he was could benefit from such a food, why couldn’t every other dog?

It is because not every pet owner truly understands what they are feeding their dogs. Of course, that has changed in recent years and I love the fact that most pet owners are more aware of the ingredients in their pet’s food, but in 2008, this was not the case. Back then, many pet owners relied solely on the recommendations of their veterinarians or on the recommendations given by “food specialists” at Petco. Even then I could tell that something was wrong. I couldn’t help but ask why so many vets and pet food specialists would recommend food that was clearly made with unhealthy ingredients and that would end up doing more harm than good? Did they even understand the kind of damage a horrible diet could inflict on a cat or a dog?

It was until I attended Bel-Rea Institute for Veterinary Technician Training that I learned the truth. There a special teacher of mine named Cindy who taught Large Animal classes happened to teach a Continuing Education course on the ingredients of pet food called, “What’s in the Bag?” It was after having many discussions with her that I learned most Veterinarians take only 6 months worth of nutrition courses throughout their entire Veterinary training career. Even those who opt to focus on nutrition later in their career go through a specialization training that is taught by the creators of Science Diet pet food, one of the worst brands of pet food in my opinion (aside from their disease related specialty diets).

Learning this, I knew the path I wanted to head down in my career. However, due to unfortunate circumstances in which I ended up homeless, I had to stop my Veterinary Technician training 6 months prior to graduation. Even as I lived through 3 months of homelessness, with my best friend Bronx and his new little sister Saphira by my side, that didn’t curb my interest in animal nutrition. Even then I remember borrowing books from the library and conducting research online reading research articles in my hotel room specifically on pet nutrition. It took months to years to learn about the different types of ingredients, how they affect a pet on a biological level and healthier alternatives to commonly used ingredients in pet food.

The last picture of Bronx I took.

Even now, 10 years later where I now have a son (who thankfully shares my love of animals) and Bronx is no longer in my life after his death a few months ago, that drive has not vanished. After Bronx’s death, I made it a mission to help other pet parents feed their best friends the best food possible. If there was anything I learned from Bronx is that animals, no matter how big or small, deserve our respect. They are living creatures and as such we should treat them with the same respect as we would treat another human. This not only means treating them correctly, it also means providing for them to the best of our ability. Bronx wasn’t just my dog. He was my best friend, a member of my family. I loved him and will continue to love him for the rest of my days. But why not share the love and care I had for him with other pets? Why not share what I have learned about pet nutrition with other pet parents who feel the same about their pet?

That was the reason for the creation of this website. It was not only meant to teach other pet parents about proper pet nutrition, but also to teach them how to make proper food choices when it comes to choosing the right type of food for their pet. It was also started as a means to share how I spoil my dog. Here, not only will you find reviews on the latest pet food, but you will also find a variety of homemade pet recipes that I personally prepare for my girl Saphira that you can make to spoil your own pets.

Keep in mind, I am not an expert. Even today I continue to grow my knowledge of pet nutrition on a daily basis. But I am experienced. I know enough to make informed decisions about pet food and my goal is to share that knowledge with you so you can make the same choices.

Why should you trust me?

You shouldn’t.

Never trust everything you find online. Do your own research and draw your own conclusions on what you should feed your pet. Above all, listen to your pet. Let them tell you what it is they need. Even if they can’t talk with words, their actions will never steer you wrong.

Where to Start with this Website?

I know that at first glance this website can seem a bit confusing and I’m sorry if it appears that way. That was never my intention when creating this site. This website is broken into sections.

Recall Alerts-an up to date list of current and existing recalls on pet food. I try to keep this section as up to date as possible. If you sign up for my email list, you can also receive such alerts in your email.

Dog Food Review-a full and detailed list of recent dog food brands I have had the chance to review, where you will see a breakdown of ingredients in the food and whether or not I recommend the food for your pet.

Dog Recipes-this is the fun section of this website. Here you will find a list of all of the dog treat recipes and home cooked food recipes that I have personally made for my dogs. Each recipe is handcrafted so you can also make them for your dogs.

Cat Food Reviews-this section is still being built, but you will find a detailed list of recent cat food brands I have reviewed, with ingredient breakdowns and recommendations on whether or not you should feed the brand to your cat.

Cat Recipes-Another fun section of this website where you will find a list of homemade cat treat recipes and cat food recipes you can make for your cat.

If you have any questions regarding a brand of pet food, want me to review a certain brand of food or have a new recipe in mind that I should make, don’t hesitate to contact me via email or leave a comment down below.

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